A new study points to the risk of planes crashing in flight being much more common than thought

The New York Times has prepared a report based on data from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration that shows us a complex and terrifying reality about commercial flights in domestic territories. This report shows that air crashes between planes are something that is very close to happening every week. This study relies on data from safety reports that have been filled out by pilots and air traffic controllers, and that have been compiled by NASA.

The moments when a plane is close to colliding with another are something that according to the report happens many times per week. In the last month there have been a total of 46 incidents of this type, while in the last 12 months, there have been a total of up to 300 of these near misses. One reason why they have not ended up happening is due to last-minute maneuvers and the quick response time of the pilots involved.

Aviation and the risk of air crashes

A fear of flying is something common for a large number of people, even those who travel by plane on a regular basis. This report from the New York Times may increase this fear for those people, since it is said that most air incidents are the result of pilot or air traffic controller error, and tend to occur in or around airports during takeoff and landing.

There are multiple examples in the United States that the New York Times highlights, calling what happened an “alarming pattern of security failures and near misses.” Another outstanding reason is the lack of staff in air traffic control towers, a recurring problem in the world of commercial aviation for some time. Is this type of event really beginning to be common today or are there simply more reports that point to it?